🕊️ Pope Leo XIV Issues Global Call for Peace in First Easter Mass

The inaugural Easter address by Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, focused on a strong message of global de-escalation and humanitarian concern. • The Message: Delivering the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, the Pope urged global leaders to "choose peace" and abandon desires for conflict and domination. He specifically called for those with weapons to lay them down to prevent further loss of life. • Diplomatic Stance: While known as a critic of the Iran war, the Pope broke with recent tradition by not naming specific countries, instead offering a broad denunciation of global violence and the growing "indifference" toward mass casualties. • Succession: The address paid tribute to the late Pope Francis, marking a transition in Vatican leadership exactly one year after his predecessor's final Easter message. • Context: Amidst ongoing global instability, the address emphasizes the moral imperative for peace over power, signaling the new pontiff's intended influence on international discourse.